5 Failed Vehicle Manufacturers Who Made Cool Cars

Seeing older models from brands and automakers that no longer exist is one of the fun things about collecting classic cars. Below, we take a closer look at some failed vehicle manufacturers who made cool cars and are still worth something years later!

Pontiac

Some of the greatest muscle cars ever built came from the now-defunct but still much-beloved Pontiac brand. Pontiac, founded in 1926, created legendary models like the GTO and Trans Am that still live as icons of the muscle car genre. Although it was one of the top-selling brands in the US during its heyday, its strategy unraveled before General Motors (GM) eventually discontinued it in 2009.

DeLorean

Ironically, the stewardship of John DeLorean, who would head another failed vehicle manufacturer that made cool cars is one of the reasons the Pontiac was so successful. The DeLorean looked like something out of the future with a stainless-steel body and gullwing doors, but it suffered from poor build quality from the start—they only built 6,000 models. However, the DMC-12 became famous as the star of the film series Back to the Future and has since become a hot automotive and Hollywood collector’s item.

Oldsmobile

The Oldsmobile was one of the most well-known and best-selling car brands in the US for decades under the GM umbrella. The Oldsmobile went toe-to-toe with behemoths like Ford and Chevrolet from the fifties to the seventies, with the Cutlass series as its best-seller. However, the Oldsmobile felt staid and out-of-touch by the nineties, and eventually, GM shut it down in 2004.

Jensen

Across the pond, Jensen is still a beloved historical name in the British automotive scene, even though it’s been dead since 2001. Jensen was making cars as far back as 1926 but really became a household name with the debut of its Interceptor in 1950. The Jensen-Healey became its best-selling model ever when it debuted in 1972 as a slick two-seater sports car with a simple but elegant design.

Bizzarrini

Alfa Romeo, Ferrari, and Iso engineers founded this small Italian auto manufacturer, setting out to make their own mark. Like other small Italian carmakers, Bizzarrini prioritized quality, design, and, most importantly, speed. Many consider the 5300GT Strada Bizzarrini’s greatest achievement, and while it was an extraordinary car, sales never made the company profitable enough. Production stopped in 1969, but the brand’s name was recently purchased in 2020, aiming to restart production, so be on the lookout for Bizzarrinis in the future!

Find Rare Cars from Extinct Manufacturers at Ideal Classic Cars

Many car brands and names have come and gone over the years, making the models they made even rarer and more collectible in the eyes of many. There’s no better place to look than Ideal Classic Cars if you’re looking for rare vintage cars for sale! Browse our wide selection of classic models or stop by our showroom today!